Company Secretary, Investment Trust

London, England, United Kingdom

12/14/2024

Who We're Looking For

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated qualified Governance professional to join the dedicated team providing governance support to the investment trusts managed by Schroders.

Your role will have a focus on end-to end governance support for investment trusts, maintaining appropriate, commercial, standards of governance. You will work closely with the client directors to meet the needs of the business and the boards. You will also take a key role in strategic projects, managing senior stakeholders, including external directors.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about governance, continuously seeks improvement, and is interested in working in an international, fast-paced organisation, as part of a well-established and close-knit team. In return, the role will give you exposure to a broad remit of governance work and the autonomy to take ownership of your own workload and to make improvements to processes.

About Schroders

We're a global investment manager. We help institutions, intermediaries and individuals around the world invest money to meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future.

We have around 6,000 people on six continents. And we've been around for over 200 years, but keep adapting as society and technology changes. What doesn't change is our commitment to helping our clients, and society, prosper.

The base

We moved into our new HQ in the City of London in 2018. We're close to our clients, in the heart of the UK's financial centre. And we have everything we need to work flexibly.

What You'll Do

• Act as Company Secretary to a range of Schroders investment trusts including providing technical and governance advice. Responsible for end-to-end support (forward planning, board papers, attending board meetings, board evaluations, drafting minutes and drafting/releasing market announcements);
• Maintain an effective governance framework for the investment trusts, meeting regulatory requirements and client board expectations;
• Advise the investment trust boards on governance matters to ensure that the arrangements are appropriate and in line with Schroders' Group Governance principles;
• Co-ordinate and organise shareholder meetings for the investment trusts in conjunction with other internal departments, including monitoring proxy votes and liaising with voting agencies;
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to draft and manage the preparation and timely publication of annual and half year reports and other shareholder communications;
• Provide technical advice on statutory and regulatory requirements arising from the Companies Act, the FCA Listing Rules and Disclosure and Transparency Rules (and Guernsey equivalents), Market Abuse Regulations, and the UK Corporate Governance Code;
• Manage insider lists for financial results and key projects, including relevant business communications.
  
  

The Knowledge, Experience And Qualifications You Need

• Qualified chartered secretary with a background in a listed company environment, c.5 years PQE;
• Experience in financial services desirable;
• Experience supporting Investment Trusts;
• Commercial, data-led approach to governance;
• Knowledge of the UK Companies Act, FCA Listing Rules and Disclosure and Transparency Rules, the Market Abuse Regulation, UK Corporate Governance Code; and
• Experience of entity management software, electronic board portals.
  
  

What You'll Be Like

• Excellent communication, influencing and analytical skills;
• Client-centric approach and the gravitas to liaise with directors and senior management and positively influence outcomes;
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure with minimum supervision.
• Commercial approach to the provision of governance, including an interest in the use of technology to support that;
• Proactive and self-motivated;
• Collaborative team player;
• Line management experience and the ability to manage and mentor team members; and
• Ability to contribute to the overall strategy and management of the Governance function.
  
  

We Recognise Potential, Whoever You Are

Our purpose is to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. Diversity of thought, facilitated by an inclusive culture, will allow us to make better decisions and better achieve our purpose. This is why inclusion and diversity are a strategic priority for us and why we are an equal opportunities employer. You are welcome here, regardless of your age, disability, gender identity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or any other protected characteristic.